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Post by rootbrewskies on Oct 21, 2007 23:06:05 GMT -5
i live in a big city, some people probably dont have to worry about it much, but what do you guys do to prevent theft? i've seen some people locking up to bike racks around the city, but what do you guys to to prevent people from just showing up and throwing your scoot in the back of a truck?
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Post by mortar235 on Oct 21, 2007 23:07:57 GMT -5
if they are willing to pick it up and put it in there truck... then nothing you can do will stop them. Thats dedication
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Post by newc77 on Oct 22, 2007 6:37:09 GMT -5
That's right. If some guys want it, and want to carry it, that's tough. Garaging when at home is the best bet. Also cable locks to tie it down when outside. Some sources also recommend the types of lock ups and tie downs that are avialble for larger motorcycles. My Lance has an electronic alarm that I never use due to battery drain. However I have read that electronic alarms on scoots are only effective when used in conjunction with cable or other locks.
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Post by YellowScooter on Oct 22, 2007 6:41:21 GMT -5
if they are willing to pick it up and put it in there truck... then nothing you can do will stop them. Thats dedication If they can pick it up and put it on a truck, then you have no business trying to fight them for it. If they're that big n bad, odds are you will lose that fight!!![/i][/u]
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Post by aristide1 on Oct 22, 2007 9:14:00 GMT -5
Even if someone is willing to truck it, it's one thing to simply pick it up and take it away, it's another to put the time in to get through a cable lock.
When stealing a vehicle seconds and not drawing attention to yourself by way of your actions is a big deal.
Obviously you can't stop a pro hell bent on taking it, but maybe some kids can be deterred to an easier target.
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Post by whodunnit on Oct 22, 2007 17:25:22 GMT -5
I use a Large cable and lock. If I can't lock it to a post, fence, sign, whatever, I still run the cable thru the rear wheel, that way with the front locked and rear wheel unable to roll they have to pick up and carry both ends, beyond that I don't worry about it.
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Post by scooterlizard on Oct 23, 2007 16:06:05 GMT -5
If they can make it past the alligators, snakes and booby traps they can have it. That's "IF".
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Post by termite on Oct 23, 2007 17:13:46 GMT -5
Walmart sells the Bell disc locks; I think they're $20. Put one on the rear wheel brake disk(or front disk if your rear is drum), and cable/chain lock the front wheel to a tree, steel post, rack, or whatever is handy. That will stop all but the most dedicated thieves.
A floodlight w/motion sensor isn't a bad idea. A dog that will bark helps, also. If the dog will attack on your command, even better.
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Post by termite on Oct 23, 2007 17:18:32 GMT -5
if they are willing to pick it up and put it in there truck... then nothing you can do will stop them. Thats dedication If they can pick it up and put it on a truck, then you have no business trying to fight them for it. If they're that big n bad, odds are you will lose that fight!!![/i][/u][/quote] That's why Sam Colt invented the metallic cartridge revolver. God may had created man(and woman), but Sam Colt leveled the playing field.
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Post by swampsniper on Oct 23, 2007 17:44:47 GMT -5
A 12 guage is best, but a 20 guage will do, in a pinch! ;D
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Post by T W I S T E R on Oct 23, 2007 20:34:27 GMT -5
Hell, I just pay the insurance premiums and let them worry about it.
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Post by mortar235 on Oct 23, 2007 20:40:17 GMT -5
Hell, I just pay the insurance premiums and let them worry about it. probably the best option
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Post by lewtwo on Oct 23, 2007 22:31:09 GMT -5
A 12 guage is best, but a 20 guage will do, in a pinch! ;D Rather use the colt ... less chance of damage to the scooter.
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Post by Bear on Oct 23, 2007 22:35:21 GMT -5
I cant find where I saw this. I took a quick look at Youtube and no dice. But anyway, there was this video demonstration of a guy taking a big pair of bolt cutters (possibly 36") and timing him while he cut various motorcycle chains and cables.
In the demo I think they cut about a dozen of them of all sizes and costs. The hardest one took a little over 30 seconds. Most took less then 10 seconds.
Locks are really only good for keeping honest people honest.
Bear
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Post by aristide1 on Oct 26, 2007 15:49:34 GMT -5
I don't recall where I read the article. A person had gone to a train station and locked up their scooter. When they returned at 5:00 pm they found the key hole to the lock filled with glue. This was an attempt to have the scooter remain there overnight, where obviously it would not be there in the morning. Well this person went to Home Depot and bought a battery operated grinding tool and some discs. The result was they sliced through the cable in about 5 minutes, which made them both happy and sad.
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Post by k650 on Oct 27, 2007 6:00:01 GMT -5
I bought a disclock from a manufacturer called Xena, it has built in alarm. So if anybody touches your scooter whith lock in the disc it alarms in 110dB, ok a thief can smash the sirenhouse on the lock...but hopefully that will take a while and alert somebody meanwhile. Go to www.lockitt.com/Xenasecurity.htm to see more. :-)
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Post by rootbrewskies on Oct 28, 2007 9:55:28 GMT -5
locks and things are all about deterrence. i have several bicycles that i have spent way to much money and sweat working on and i live in a big city. when i lock them up you have to use a U-Lock (preferably one made by kryptonite). anyway, the locks are really hard to get through, although not indestructable, and with enough time a theif could get any bike they really wanted. I do the same thing with my car. I put the club on it, i realize they are super simple to get around too, but hte hope is that the chump trying to steal stuff sees your lock and moves on to the next option. From what i've noticed theft is all about convenience. ive had friends get the worst bikes/cars ever stolen simply because they are easy to steal.
so its all about deterance essentially. and the question is what do you do to deter.
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Post by YellowScooter on Oct 30, 2007 7:23:09 GMT -5
Nothing is theft-proof. A career pro will ultimatly get what they set out to get. The idea is to make yours more work than it's worth to the thief. Best bets far as recovery goes is the little homing bugs they have out now. I forget what they're called, but it's GPS tracked.
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Post by zippadeedudah on Dec 23, 2007 6:21:36 GMT -5
If you must store it outside of the garage at your home, kryptonite chain your pitt bull to the bike at all times. Teach your aggressive pitt bull to ride on the top seat of your scoot and leave him chained to it on your next trip where you plan be absent for a lengthy period, i.e., when visiting a bar or brothel, etc. Joe ;D
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Post by earlwb on Dec 23, 2007 8:26:48 GMT -5
Basically all you can do is make it difficult for a thief, if they want it nothing will stop them. Hopefully if you make it diffcult or harder to steal than something else they'll leave it alone. Theft insurance is a big plus though.
A friend of mine had his Harley stolen out of his garage when he was away. The theives busted open the garage door, then used a gas acetyline cutting torch on the heavy hardened chain he had used to tie it down with (he had a heavy duty eyelet cemented into the corner of the garge floor). Apparently they had to lift the front up too as there was a disc lock on it as well. But his bike was stolen and none of the neighbors had seen anything about it.
There is/was a video clip on Youtube that depicted a couple of guys video taping how easy it is to steal bicycles in New York City. They used a hacksaw, large bolt cutters, a AC powered portable cutoff tool and a battery powered cutoff tool. In one case a police officer walked right on by and ignored him. No one ever challenged them as to what they were doing or anything. He spent several minutes hacksawing through a chain and no one questioned him on it.
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Post by "Big Guy" on Dec 23, 2007 10:50:57 GMT -5
I bought a disclock from a manufacturer called Xena, it has built in alarm. So if anybody touches your scooter whith lock in the disc it alarms in 110dB k650, I would guess that if you cover the alarm vents with a double layer of duct tape it would defeat the alarm.
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Post by Javarod on Dec 23, 2007 22:23:33 GMT -5
If they can make it past the alligators, snakes and booby traps they can have it. That's "IF". Been listening to Jerry Reed lately? As to preventing theft, you can't, but you can deter it. Luckily for me here, thieves here are more interested in motorcycles, scooters are more of a casual theft thing typically, so deterrent is all you need. I typically use a combination of cable lock (do need a better one), disk brake lock and Bike Cuffs (made by MasterLock, although I'm not sure they offer them any more, there's a minor problem with them that fixing would weaken the design), and lock it to something solid if at all possible. Be careful what you lock it too, saw a scooter locked to a heavy pole, what the Brits call bollocks I believe. Problem was that it was a straight pole, ifn someone was so inclined to, and likely they'd need a partner, they could just pick up the scooter and slide the chain up over the top of the pole.
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Post by kitcarguy on Dec 24, 2007 16:52:57 GMT -5
I dont do anything. If you are the determined to steal my SunL well more power to you. I will just give geico a call and get a new one.
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Post by zippadeedudah on Dec 25, 2007 17:08:32 GMT -5
I am quite sure there are a good number of people who would not mind having their scoots stolen, assuming they have comprehensive with a low deductible. When I was down looking at the Piaggio BV500 the other day there was a scooterist in there who had his Kymco People 150 stolen even though it was chained. This was in downtown Atlanta. It was not recovered and he told me he was quite happy with the amount he received from his insurance company. He showed me some heavy Kryptonite chain he should have had and the cheaper one he was using at the time of theft. However, do remember, an insurance company might pay for one stolen bike, maybe two, but they can drop your butt like a hot potato if you have too many comprehensive losses even if you are in no way related to the theft. Remember, those boys in the insurance industry are up nights plotting how to screw us when we interfere with any of their profits, and there we are sleeping away. That "ain't" the only industry either that does it either. Joe
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Post by Leader on Dec 25, 2007 23:26:12 GMT -5
How about this. First, never wash the scooter. Second, don't fix cosmetic stuff. Third, buy used and old, that way if it is stolen your not out much.
One time, some teenager keyed my car. I laughed. That "nice looking" Saab 9000 Turbo had 210,000 miles on it, a bad direct ignition cassette, and peeling paint. That scratch was the least of my concerns with it. I'm sure that the Salvation Army didn't notice the scratch when I donated it for the tax write off.
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Post by slowscootin07 on Dec 27, 2007 16:37:10 GMT -5
Personally I think those Kyptonite U-Locks are just for show. A BIC pen can pick them open. (Yes I tried and it worked) They also will shatter open if you douse them with liquid nitrogen and one good hammer whack. If you don't have "dry ice" then a can of R-134a ( air conditioning refrigerant) available just about anywhere will do the same thing on just about any lock or chain especially if they are hardened. DON'T try this at home, you can seriously hurt yourself and YES lose a finger or two. No Joke!!! As for preventing theft, you really can't, all you can do is to slow them down. If you really want to go all out, you can get a relatively inexpensive GPS device and hide it on your scoot. gps-snitch.com/ These can be hard wired into your electrical system and don't draw that much power.
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Post by bunnii on Dec 31, 2007 1:27:14 GMT -5
I learned the hard way that that front wheel lock amounts to useless...should have known that, but at least I wont be careless again.
I bought the Xena lock for my new one...i'll be getting a nice big chain before I take it back up to school with me. I hope I have better luck this time.
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Post by swampsniper on Dec 31, 2007 1:41:31 GMT -5
A few public hangings wouldn't hurt! ;D
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